BILLY BUNTER

Tim needs to walk before he talks the talk

TONY PULIS – the man every club in the land wants in times of crisis. Versus Tim Sherwood, who thinks he’s the man that every club should want in times of crisis.

That’s top of the bill on the first night of Premier League action. The man who walks the walk against someone who’s very good at talking the talk, but hasn’t quite mastered the walking bit yet.

Villa versus West Brom. If you’re a Baggies’ fan right now, you’re presumably feeling quite content with Pulis at the helm. But I reckon Villa fans aren’t quite so sure about Sherwood and nor should they be.

He obviously rates himself, he’s made that abundantly clear. Only last weekend he was banging on about the legacy he’d created at White Hart Lane. Ten minutes in charge of Spurs and he’s created a legacy, I ask you.

And even though he’s presided over two defeats in two at Villa Park, the second of those against Newcastle was far better than the loss against Stoke because now that he’s at the club performances are already improving very quickly.

If I was Tim Sherwood right now, I think I’d be sending coaches, players, tea ladies, just about anyone else at the club, to go and do press conferences, and perhaps be keeping my mouth shut. After all, he’s not exactly preaching from a position of strength, is he?

So in the gospel according to Tim, the upward curve in Villa’s performance level since he’s arrived should be such that they are utterly irresistible against the Albion and will win easily. But that’s the gospel according to Tim. And it’s why I’m all over West Brom.

Match in Focus

19:45 TODAY BT1

Aston Villa v
West Brom

Home Win

Draw

Away Win

Key stats

West Brom have drawn four of their last five away games

Expert verdict

Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa are the lowest scorers in the top flight with a pathetic home haul of nine goals while West Brom have managed only eight on the road so clearly the draw is a big runner. That would suit West Brom more than Villa, but it’s questionable whether the hosts have the confidence to carve out a win.